Vol. 505 No. 6
176 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding the disposal of hospital waste; the means being used; the future plans, if any, he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14544/99]
The health care risk waste which arises in hospitals continues to be exported for incineration abroad.
The future plan is that this waste will be treated, in Ireland, by a shredding and decontamination process. To this end a joint waste management board, representative of my Department and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, has appointed a contractor to provide the service of collection, transport, treatment and disposal of healthcare risk waste throughout the island of Ireland. This service will commence when the contractor obtains an operating licence from the Environmental Protection Agency.
